Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-11
CITY AND DISTRICT.
SCHOOL TRUSTEES, POWER,

AAANN 4N1O4s
SCHOOL TRUSTEES, POWERS.
The District Commissioners Concede
some Points to the school Board.
THEY CAUTION THE TRUSTEES NOT To GIVE TOO
MUCH HEED TO DETAns-OTHRR MATTERS BEFORE
THE BOARD LAST NTGHr-wRIrrRN EXAMINATIONS
ABoLisHED-DR FRANCIS PROPOSES TO LENGrHEN
THE HIGH SCHOOL COURSE.
On the 14th Of December last the school hoard
anopted resolutions which raised a number az
Quesuons respecting the powers OF the trustees
anu III RELATION 10 the management OF the school
fund. THESE resolutions were regarded az the
time as sort OF protest against series OF actions
ny Inc commissioners, which had deprived the
Ooaru ol much or Its original power and left 1t an
ao'iSoiy ooard The resolutions requested the
commissioners to furnish the board or trustees Mt
the close OF every quarter detailed statement Of
DISBURSEMENTS made for school purposes other
than teachers salaries; to consider the Feasibility
ana proprlety OF having orders upon the contin-
gent rund submitted to the president OF
the BOARD for approval; to devise a
pan Dy winch repairs to school build
lngs s, may De speedily made and completed,
local committee, and to require all matters, with
regard 10 the management OF the schools, brought
10 tae attsntion TO De reduced to writing and for
"aIueu W Inc president OF the board for such ref
erence and action as he may deem proper. The
COmmlssloners after holding the resolutions under
tef MONDAY III reply to the resolutions.
THE REPLY OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Tnls letter, which was received by the board at
us meetlng last night over the signature OF Com
missioner Webb, said: "The Commissioners have
had before them Tor some time the resolutions
passed by the trustees at their meeting on Deem
Oer Is. 1850, ana because there seemed to them
how nod IL
Ing any reply. am Instructed now to say that
aat o one com mn, OF the next fiscal year.
pltance with the requests and SUGGESTIONS con.
tanned In the resolutions These requests and
suggoSClons are In every way reasonable and the
cutlOn Is calculated to greatly benefit the future
conduct OF the affairs OF the schools The order
maue ny tne commissioners, a copy Of which was
communicated TO you by the secretary on the 18th
OF March, 1887, as appears from the printed pro-
ceedings OF your regular meeting held April IL,
1881 Provdes the method in which all acquisitions
shall be drawn in future. Your attention is par
ticuariy called to this order, as intended to pre-
vent an irreguarity or extravaganza in future ex
penditures. II all acquisitions for the expendi-
ture OF monies out OF the contingent fund apDrO
prated for the schools be drawn by the SUI
perlntendent OF the schools and submitted to
tees, 1t may be safely concluded that such fund
VIII be most amply and carefully protected.
IhlS general supervision OF this fund, together
with the quarterly statement of its expenditure
required by the resolutions seem to he entirely
consistent with the duties of the trustees Tho
only ear on the part of the Commissioners in this
cOnhectlen Is that the trustees may feel it to be
thelr duty 10 give too much heed to details, and
so waste time that might be properly devoted to
proper conduct OF the schools The mowers and
duties OF the trustees, embracing as they do every
matter relating to the care OF the public schools
In every detail, the methods OF instruction, the
proper direction OF the supervision and conduct of
the schools, and the progress OF the studies
pursued, ana the standard to be obtained there
mat
up the great educational supervision and progress
OF a community like this, furnish somuch and such
important WORK That the commissioners feel sat.
1sied that the trustees will not want to be burh-
ened with other and further duties, In many re-
spects foreign to this great work.
=, inc otner REQUESTS contained in the resolutions
having reference TO repairs OF school buildings and
the supplies to be furnished when required and
requesting that complaints with reference to the
sioners may be reduced to writing and forwarded
to the president OF the trustees, seem altogether
reasonable and proper, and shall receive due at
the letter was referred by the board to the CON-
mlttee on rules.
WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS ABOLISHED.
Tne board, proceeding to other business, heard
report from MesSrS. Ross, Fish, and Darlington
special committee to whom was referred the SUBJ
ject Of the abolition OF the annual written exami
nations The report stated ssthat, after full con
SideratiOn OF the same and consultation with
many Of the principal school Officials OF the Dis
II.
the proposed plan may result in sending to the
High School larger number OF pupils than can
Oe conveniently accommodated under existing
arrangements, yet that plan Is feasible whereby
all who are properly qualified may be admitted
The committee are confident that the teachers of
the eightn grades are as competent to certify to
the proficiency and qualifications of their pupils
as are those OF the lower grades, who recommend
their pupils for advancement without writ
on pupils aa ana 1saI p pns asain
their studies Will be enhanced BY omitting
said examinations. The committee, therefore,
recommend that the resolutions adopted by the
board at It's regular meeting Oh February &. 1887
be adhered to, and that the plan concentrated oy
said resolution be given fair trial by permitting
year." The report was adopted.
Mr.. Fish said the effect OF It would be that
pupils and teachers would now continue their
work up to the very hour the schools closed for
the year. instead OF losing the time that has been
consumed by these examinations.
MIR. johnson asked about the program for the
closing days Of the schools
Mr.. Fish stated that as the examinations were
to be omitted all the schools except the High
probably be June :,1.
Mr.. Johnson remarked that he thought closing
day ought 10 De done away with, as IL involved
DR.. Fish said they had TO close the schools hui
1t was not necessary to do 1t with band of music
He thought the parents Ought.to visit the schools
crossing.
TIE C0L0RED HIGH SCHOOL.
DR.. Francis, from the special committee to
whom was referred the resolution relative to the
transferring the High School OF the seventh and
eighth divisions from the Miner building to the
Sumner building, reported a Recommendation that
no action relative to change OF location OF the
school De TAKEN; also, on account of the rapidly
increasing numbers In the High School, and the
very crowded space occupied by It, that The lower
grades now occupying part OF the Miner build
Ing be provided with accommodations elsewhere,
and the whole or the building be given up TO the
use OF the Miner Normal School and the High
School. The recommendation was adopted.
THE HIGH SCHOOL COURSE.
DR.. Francis offered series OF resolutions as fol-
lows, which were referred to the committee on
high and normal schools:
That the High and Normal school committee
with the superintendents and principals or the
constituted COMMITTEES, to report ct an early date
whose duties shall be as follows:
l. TO consider the expediency OF frightening the
course OF study for the High schools OF this city to
four years, the curriculum OF which shall be such
as WILL at least, prepare its graduates for entrance
into the collegiate department OF the best ap-